The girl and I made a wreath for the front door... seriously, made. A. Wreath. Halloween deserves a wreath! With a skull and cobwebs and big spiders and Look Out! It is scary.
The wreath, btw, was born from a moment which, not unlike a perfect storm, involves several things happening in perfect sequence - the random availability of Martha Stewart magazine, actually picking up and flipping through magazine and finally, dog earring page of said magazine while promising 4 year old daughter that you will make the wreath together.
Move ahead 2 days. 2 days punctuated by 7 a.m. conversations along the lines of "Momma, istodaythedaywemakethewreath?Don'tforgetyouPROMISED.Let'sgetthestufftodayafterschool,ok????
But, um... am I the only one who thinks $10 is a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a Styrofoam form? $10? It seems like the type of item that is worth .48 and, with mark up and profit margins, retails for $1.50. It's my first Styrofoam moment, so all you crafters out there just need to bear with me.
I refused to buy the damn thing which meant that I could either come up with Plan B or be the meanest mommy in the world and quite frankly, it almost came down to a coin toss.
Plan B was a mass assembly of festive Halloween goodness and, let me just take this moment to mention that our new wreath is wayyyyy better... in fact, it's bananas. (I TOLD you... too much Rachel Zoe... at pick-up on Monday afternoon I got this from her, "Um, Mom? It's Monday? And I have yoga on Mondays? And I'm in a skirt? And I should have on leggings? For yoga?" All with the question at the end... Eva Moon Unit.)
Today we are spray painting.
The spray painting comes from this post... are you following the story of Stephanie and Christian Nielsen? *sigh* It's so sad yet so uplifting at the same time... I don't know... reading through Stephanie's archives has definitely made an impact on me, but I hate that I came to know of her through this tragedy... In any case, I imagine it's impossible to read her and not be moved to do something in your life a little better.
Now, I have a little favor to ask... we're hosting a dinner for, I don't know 20 something people in a couple of weeks and I would prefer to cook over cater, because I am pretty certain I can cook well enough to pull off a delightful meal... but I need some suggestions on appetizers... which, can I tell you, make me bitter? So often guests fill up on itty bitty cheese and crackers... so I think I'm slapping out bowls of olives and nuts and telling folks to chew their ice cubes. But, if you have something delightful, please send it along... maybe nuts and olives and then soup? Starting with soup sounds nice.
Dear me... this whole post is starting to smack of a "stream of consciousness" writing exercise and so I leave you know with the knowledge that orange is back in the picture.
Beware the awesome fear inducing WREATH of Halloween!!
22 comments:
How about an antipasti tray? Some cheeses, some olives, etc. And then maybe pasta, salad, and Italian bread for dinner?
I first read about Nie over at Derfwad Manor and I have also spent a lot of time enjoying her old posts.
It's a terrible situation, but I am amazed at how her family has been able to come together for their children!
Are you going to post photos of your wreath or is it too scary?
I too have been reading the archives of NieNie. LOVE IT....
I will have put some thought in the food situation. I do belong to a monthly meeting of "gourmet" ladies for the last 12 years. I will check what I have.
You must post picture of said wreath.
Lisa
I love Halloween! I probably like to come up with costumes more now than I did when I was a kid ... we don't really have too many decorations at home, though.
When we have people over, we like to do appetizers. I have a good recipe for an artichoke mixture that you put in french bread and cut up sandwich sizes...people seem to enjoy it. e-mail me if you want the recipe. We also will do meatballs and bean rollups for the non-meat eaters...good luck!
krgo5@yahoo.com
you know, orange promotes positive chi
I just found out that I won! I didn't get on the computer this weekend. Something about a three-year-old, a park, a picnic, such a blur. But, I do remember the Captain Morgan and coke at home later. Tell sweet little Eva thanks for picking me. If I win the lottery I'll share it with her. I feel my luck is changing!
Thank you!!!
Carol
Now, about your party. I found a great recipe for a squash tart. FABULOUS! You can slice it up like little pizza slices. Pie crust(fashioned very rusic-y), goat cheese, tomatoes, summer and yellow squash, roasted peppers, bleu cheese/goronzola, fresh thyme. Very rustic looking but oh so delicious. Nice with a dry white wine.
Carol
Jen - I am leaning towards pasta... but I am worried about so much getting sticky... but antipasta trays are a lovely idea...
Marisa - Oh, the wreath photo will be up as soon as the rest of the house is festive... now that we're having this party, I feel very challenged to get it together.
Lisa - I swear, Stephanie's blog, as well as her sister's are such a blessing to me... really wonderful.
Los - I have too many... maybe it's time for a giveaway (as I stare at the 3 new skeleton candle holders my husband brought home).
Rach - Yum! I want that!
Van - Dude, we are all about the positive chi around this place... good choice to re-include orange, yes?
Carol - Captain Morgan and coke? Yay! You're my new best friend! Now that you know you've won, I will email Jacqueline and she'll be in touch with you... again, congrats!
Yoga? She goes to 4 year old yoga?
Anon - Yes, Eva takes yoga on Monday mornings... as she is at school early to accommodate Jake's schedule, it's a nice little program for her.
Come to think of it, I am pretty sure she went off to school in a skirt again...
I want to see a picture of the wreath. I am just not a crafty person.
Artichoke dip? I have on I could send you. Warm with some sourdough bread; it is my favorite food in the world.
Oh and to Anonymous, My kid does Pilates. She's 6 years old. She loves it.
I'll be looking through my files for great appetizers ...which are my specialty.
Issa - send it, please!... the baby, btw, is so darling... i need a baby to snuggle... not to keep, just an hour of warm baby sleeping on my lap.
Shell - You are a great cook so bring it on! Maybe, like your cousins, I should "invite" you and make you work!
Lean in close!
Trader Joe's baguette sliced with a smear of brie and topped w/ fresh bruschetta & basil. To die for. Also, to gain 20 pounds for. Like "a friend" of mine did.
That wreath is seriously scary and seriously awesome.
I do a variety of olives. Add some almonds and a bowl of grapes. Simple but nice and not so filling that it ruins dinner.
When we're having a big group for dinner I like to do a variety of olives (Whole Foods has a great olive bar) with little blocks of feta, nuts (pistachios, because they take more work and people don't fill up) and dates, then pita or pita chips and a couple of different kinds of hummus--kind of a Mediterranean thang. Very very simple, and it allows you to devote your full attention to the main dish & dessert.
That's a way cool wreath! We may have to try something like that!
As far as appetizers go...I usually make homemade guacamole and call it good. But I don't do dinner parties really... Cuz I just suck like that. :)
Lena - I think I have a friend who did that very same thing... her name is "Ristin Rast"... at least it is if Scooby Doo is speaking.
Denise - Yeah, that Whole Foods olive bar is sounding tempting... also, olives are nice with chicken which I think we are going to rotisserie...
Amy - Please, I don't have dinner parties either... I have BBQs, lots and lots of BBQs...
Hey you...
You failed to mention my part in the wreath. I picked out the skull...and traipsed round Micheal's with you...
That is true love...
Now what is this dinner? I am so out of the loop. What about a big old soup and bread...?
Who is it for again?
Sorry...I know, I know...
That's a great wreath! And a great idea for me to do with my kids too!
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